Oh Mr Bennet!

Had to smile while l was out with my group of tourists on Tuesday. I do a bit of Mayor’s Guiding – in case you didn’t know – twice daily free – no tip – tour of the city given by knowledgeable volunteers.

Heading up Gay Street l always wave at Martin Salter. He’s the man – dressed as ‘Mr Bennet’ – who greets visitors to the Jane Austen Centre where this Regency novelist of note can be worshipped.

Sensing a gap in the traffic Martin whizzed over to tell me he’d just done his bit to clean up Bath. Seems certain language students in Queen Square have been gathering to smoke outside their centre of schooling and just throwing the stubs down when they have finished.

Seems certain language students in Queen Square have been gathering to smoke outside their centre of schooling and just throwing the stubs down when they have finished.

Too much of a nuisance for this ‘character’ from Pride and Prejudice to bear. As he told his fans on Facebook, Martin took across an ashtray for these young people to use while indulging in their filthy habit. You can tell l am an ex-smoker.

I hear the school’s teaching staff have since told their students not to litter the pavement!